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Saturday, October 03, 2015

“What
makes you think she will live with us?” Imafidon asked his father.

He
cleared his throat before he answered. “I will not conclude on that but she
will be the only occupant in her house. She was very close to her father.”

“How
come I have not met her?” he asked. “I remember seeing your late friend here at
the palace.”

“You
were eight or nine years the last time I saw her. I think she was five or six
years when her father brought her.”

“Anyway,
I should be on my way with Osaigbovo.”

“No
problem my son. Go in peace.”

“May the
gods always be with you father.”

King
Nosa smiled placidly. “And you too my future king.”

********

Chief
Obaseki welcomed chief Asemota in his house. It was an unexpected visit.

“You are
welcome,” Obaseki said. “Please sit down.”

“Thank
you.” Asemota said and sat down.

“If I
knew you were coming, I would have ordered for some palm wine for you.”

“I know
but I am not here for merriments.”

“Tell me
why you are here?” Obaseki asked.

He sighed.
“You know we are getting old and the king’s health is not getting any better. I am
getting nervous.”

“Nervous?”

“What if
the king suddenly dies?” he asked concerned. “What will happen next?”

“Prince
Imafidon becomes king,” he said proudly. “That is what will happen if the gods
takes the life of King Nosa.”

“I
know,’ Asemota said calmly. “I came to you to discuss about this because you
are a considerate man. You are not biased like the others especially chief
Aigbokia. I do not trust the wife of the king and her son.”

He
smiled. “I have never trusted them too but nothing will change. They know
prince Imafidon is the future king. The prophecy came true after our late queen
Abosede gave birth first. You have to understand that hate, betrayal will
happen when the king married another woman. Abieyuwa should be watched.”

“What about
prince Osazuwa?” he asked disturbed. “I do not trust him at all. You can see
the way he treats the people of our Kingdom. He must not be king otherwise
things will go wrong. He wil treat the people like animals.”

“That is
why the gods made sure prince Imafidon was given birth to. There will surely be
calamity if prince Osazuwa had being the first born.”

“We must
protect prince Imafidon.”

“I
believe he is safe,” chief Obaseki said. “No harm will come to him and remember
he always goes out with his powerful guard Osaigbovo. I heard the prince is
taking fighting lessons with him privately.”

“But he
has to have a woman. I have never seen him with a woman, in fact I have my
doubts he has never been with one before.”

He
laughed. “Of course he has been with a woman before. The only thing is that he
has not seen the woman to call his own. I believe the gods will direct him to choose
a woman that will look after the Kingdom like the late queen did.”

“Do you
know prince Osazuwa is engaged to Adesuwa of Udo Kingdom?”

“Everybody
knows but he is making the biggest mistake of his life.”

He shook
his head. “A very big mistake.”

Chief
Obaseki rose on his feet. “You will not come to my house without me offering
you anything to eat. Let me get you kolanuts.”

“I will
appreciate that.” he said.

*******

Prince
Imafidon and Osaigbovo walked side by side together to the house of King Nosa’s
late friend. They approached the house and few persons stood outside consoling
the daughter. The people were surprised to see him and they all paid their
respect to the prince and left to give him some privacy with Omotola.

The
prince saw how innocent she looked with her small and shiny eyes. She was the
same height with him. She had an average body and a very pretty face.

She
greeted him and gave him a chair to sit down.

“I am very sorry about the death of your father,” prince Imafidon said. “My father
sent his regards and he is sorry for not coming to see you.”

“How can
the king be sorry when I understand why he cannot come, your presence is more
than enough and I believe it’s too much for me.”

“I am
always with my father and I don’t think you have to know everyone in your
Kingdom.”

“But
have you seen me before?”

“Of
course,” she said. “I used to see you play with children. My father told me
about the late queen your mother, how she was very nice to the people of this
land. You are like her.”

He
smiled. “I am happy you noticed.”

“Can I say something?” Omotola asked.

“You are
free to say anything.”

“My late
father told me how your mother cared so much about the widows in the Kingdom.
After her unfortunate demise everything stopped. You should have continued the
legacy.”

Imafidon
gave a faint smile. “I expected my step mother to do that after my aunt Isoken
discussed about it to me. I will continue the legacy when I become king.”

“What stops
you now?”

He
stared at her surprised. “Nothing stops me now but do you have a grudge against
me?”

Omotola
smiled and it revealed her dimples. “Not at all, it’s just an advice.”

“Well,
you are good at it and I would love you to be my adviser. The King wants you to
live in the palace.”

The
smile on her lips disappeared. “Why?”

“He
believes living here alone should make you scared.”

Her left
eyebrow rose. “Is it because I am a woman?”

“I think
so but can you stay here alone?”

“Of
course I can,” Omotola replied. ‘I can live here on my own. I am not afraid and
I can defend myself if anyone dare attempt to threaten me.”

Her
statement intrigued Prince Imafidon, “Do you know how to fight?”

She
sighed. “My father was my best friend because I was always with him. Whenever
he was at the farm or forest to hunt, I was there to assist him. Despite the
fact that he was a farmer, he knew how to fight. He was not able to afford a
sword but we used cutlass. He taught me how to fight.”

His eyes
widened. “This is unbelievable.”

“Why
should it be unbelievable?” she asked. “I am sure you know how to fight?”

“Yes I
can?”

“Should
we contest?”

Imafidon
roared in laughter.

She
chuckled. “Are you mocking me?”

“No.” he
laughed the more.

She
shook her head. “Should I tell you why I never came to the palace when I became a grown
woman?”

He
stopped to laugh and glanced at her. “Tell me.”

“My
father was scared I would have been able to persuade the King your father to
allow me train with his warriors. He was afraid because he did not want to lose
his only child.”

He stared
at her stunned! “You want to be a warrior?”

“Yes but
my father declined. He was terrified when I told him my dream to fight with the
warriors of this Kingdom if trouble arises. Your father and late mother accommodated
my father and me when I was a baby. Other Kingdoms rejected us before Izieole
Kingdom became our home. How can I repay your family for the love they showed
us?”

Imafidon
was short of words. He looked at her for
some seconds before he spoke. “It’s not too late if you want to be a warrior of
this Kingdom.”

“It’s
late.”

“Why is
it late?”

“I
promised my father on his sick bed that I would never be a warrior. I do not
want to break that promise.”

He
smiled. “I won’t let you break that promise.”

She nodded.

“It
means you won’t live in the palace.”

“I’m
sorry, it’s a no.”

“My
father will understand.”

Omotola
glared at his legs and looked into his eyes. “I am very sorry about your legs.”

“It’s
nothing,” he said. “I no longer feel pain anymore.”

“But you
are limping.”

“It will
end soon, I believe by tomorrow, I will be okay.”

“I can
get you herbs to drink.”

He shook
his head and touched her on the shoulder carefully. “Don’t bother yourself.”

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes Omotola."

“Okay.”

Imafidon
removed his hand and rose. “Do you want to train with me?”

Omotola
shocked, and rose on her feet. “Our future king is asking me if I want to train
with him?”

“Do
you?”

“Yes! I
mean, it’s an honor to train with a royal. I would love to my prince.”

“Do you
have a place in particular we can train?”

“I know
of a place myself and my father used to go to.”

“My
guard Osigbovo will let you know when I am ready.”

“Okay my
prince.”

“And do
not carry your cutlass when you want to train with me.” he teased her.

She
giggled. “What will I use?”

“I have
two swords,” he said. “I will get you one.”

Omotola
bowed down her head. “May the gods always protect you.”

“Ise.”

“Let me
go back to the palace and inform the King you are well and strong. May the gods
give you more wisdom.”

“Ise.”

*******

(Udo Kingdom)

“My
wonderful prince,” said Adesuwa to Osazuwa who came to visit her.

“I
should be known as the future prince of Izieole Kingdom not just a prince.”

She
stood up from where she sat down and parked herself close to him. “I know about
that but I know you will become king.”

“Why
can’t my father die?”

Adesuwa
rubbed his head. “He will die soon.”

“My
brother is yet to have a woman to be engaged to,” he said. “How will he do it
when my father dies?”

“Maybe
he is seeing someone secretly.”

Osazuwa
shook his head. “I do not think he is seeing any princess of another Kingdom.”

“Tell
your guard Aigbe to snoop around.”

“I will
do that.”

“How is
your mother?”

“She is
well but she is unhappy you have not seen her for some time now.”

“I will
visit her soon but when are we getting married?”

“I know
you can’t wait to known as Obayuwana, the wife of prince Osazuwa. That time
will come very soon.”

She
smiled and kissed him on the lips.

********

“I am
happy she is fine.’ The King said in his room to Imafidon after his arrival in
the evening.

He
explained to his father the reason Omotola never came to the palace.

“Oh I
see. No wonder she only came here when she was a little girl. He was protecting
his daughter. I think he feared for her safety.”

“Yes
father.”

“I am
sure she grew up to be a beautiful woman."

Silence.

“What is
it son?” King Nosa asked.

“Nothing.”

“But you
did not say anything about her beauty.”

“I like
her father.”

He
smiled brightly and adjusted himself on the bed. “In what way?”

Imafidon
shrugged. “She sounded intelligent and fearless. I was comfortable around her
and it felt I have known her for a long time. I hate to admit it but she is
adorable.”

King
Nosa made a face. “Why do you hate the fact that she is adorable? I do not
understand you son.”

“I do
not want to get my heart broken.”

“How?”

“Do I have
a chance to be with her if I want her as my woman?”

“I will
always support you if you choose any woman as your own. I know you will make
the right choice. Your mother was not a king’s daughter before I married her.”

”You
told me about it but I am not talking about her status but where she's from.
Omotola is not from our Kingdom, in fact she entirely of another tribe.”

“Do you
have a problem with that?”

Imafidon
sighed audibly. “I can never have a problem with that but what will the people
say.”

“The
people of this Kingdom loves you and they know you will make the right choice.
You are not going to have issues if you marry any woman of another tribe. I
know it has never happened in our Kingdom before but there is room for change.”

He gave
a smile. “I would love that. I need to see aunty Isoken.”

“Okay
son.”

“Goodnight
father.”

“Goodnight
Imafidon.”

********

Prince
Osazuwa and Aigbe were getting close to the palace when an old man with a small
body bowed down his head to greet the prince.

Osazuwa halted and faced the man.“Can you
not lay yourself on the floor?”he asked.

“I am an
old man and I have waist and back pain.”

He
opened his eyes at the man. “That is none of my business! Lay on the floor or I
will give you ten strokes of the cane!”

“My son
plea…”

“Don’t you
ever call me your son! A man like you can never have a child like me!!”

“Please I
am an old man. My body is very weak.”

Osazuwa
turned to his guard. “Give me my cane.”

Aigbe
dipped his hand in his bag he carried and gave the prince what he wanted.

“Lie on
the floor!!” Prince Osazuwa uttered.

“Please…”

The guard
pushed the old man to the floor and Osazuwa speedily began to floor him all
over his body without counting. The people of Izieole that walked by looked at the man pitifully.
Tears dropped from some of the women eyes as the old man wailed out of pain.
After the prince got satisfied with the flogging, he turned to the people.

“If any
one dares see me without laying on the floor to greet me will be flogged! I do
not care if you are old or sick!! I am your prince and you must obey me!!!”

The
people quickly fell flat on the ground and greeted him. Osazuwa and his guard walked away from them.

“You
must spy on every move of my brother,” the prince said to Aigbe in front of the palace.

“I will
my prince.”

“You
must let me know where he is going to and who he visits.”

“Yes my
prince. I will not fail you.”

*******

The next
day, Prince Imafidon went to the kitchen to see Isoken and Osato.

“I do
not understand why the two of you like to stress yourselves when we have cooks
in this palace.” He said to them. He was looking very good in his white native
attire. He limped a little but no longer with a walking stick.

“We are
not complaining my son,” said Isoken. “I am very happy you are walking on your
own.”

“Me too.”
Osato said.

“Thank
you.” He said to them and faced his aunt’s direction. “I came to your room last
night but you were sleeping.”

“I slept
early because I was having headache.”

He moved
closed to her. “Are you better now?”

“Yes my
prince.”

Imafidon
smiled.

“Your
father told me you went out yesterday.”

“Yes I did.”

“Did you
meet anyone?” she asked curiously.

“Anyone?”
he asked confused. “I do not understand.”

“You
mean you have forgotten what the priestess said about meeting someone special on the fourth day?
Your destiny!”

Imafidon
stared at her puzzled. “I do not understand what you are saying. I was in pains
that day and you don’t expect me to remember what the priestess said.”

"What
about when she talked about never giving up on your Kingdom?”

“I
remember what she told me, that a time will come I have to be patient and learn
to forgive. That I will have to endure what will happen to me in the future. I
should also have faith in my future queen, that she will help this great
Kingdom.”

Isoken
sighed. “Are you saying you did not meet anyone you liked?”

Imafidon
shrugged. “I met a woman I really liked.”

The two
women looked at each other surprised and glanced back at the prince.

“Who is
she?” Isoken asked impatiently and excited.

Imafidon
swallowed. “She is the daughter of father’s late friend that died.”

“You
mean the farmer?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I think
I remember her when she was a little girl. How is she?”

“Strong.”

“You
believe she is the one to rule the Kingdom with you?”

“I do
not know about that. I have sent Osaigbovo to her.”

“Any
problem?”

“No,” he
replied. “I sent him to tell her we are going to meet again in two days’ time.”

Isoken
smiled cheerfully. “All I want to tell you is to follow your heart.”

“I will.”

********

Osaigbovo
came with a bottle of herb and a bowl of soup the prince opened.

“Who
gave them to you?”

“It is
the daughter of the king’s late friend.”

“You
mean Omotola?”

“Yes my
prince.” he said. “She said you should drink the soup and take the herbs
afterwards. You will get better.”

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